1 M. I. Glasser — party member since 1917. From 1917 to 1924 worked in the secretariat of the Council of People's Commissars.
2 A. S. Enukidze — party member since 1898. From 1918 to 1922 — member of the Presidium and secretary of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.
3 This concerns an article for the journal "Communist International" entitled "On the Question of the Dictatorship — A Historical Outline" (see Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, pp. 369–391). Written on the reverse of a note from M. I. Glasser, secretary, asking whether Lenin would continue work on the article after the Council of People's Commissars meeting.
15948

## NOTE TO THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE JOURNAL "COMMUNIST INTERNATIONAL"

[October 21, 1920]

To the Editorial Board of "Communist International"
in Petrograd

Yesterday I sent:

1) Manuscript¹
2) 2 books for reprinting²

Total = the full text of my article.

Receive, immediately verify, set type
(return everything to me).

¹ This concerns the article "On the Question of the Dictatorship — A Historical Outline," which Lenin sent for typesetting in Petrograd to the editorial office of the journal "Communist International" (see the present collection, the preceding document, and Complete Collected Works, vol. 41, pp. 369–391). Lenin carried out proofreading of the article; he made a series of corrections to the proofs sent to him from Petrograd.

² These refer to the first volume of collected works "For 12 Years" and the pamphlet "The Victory of the Cadets and the Tasks of the Workers' Party."
15961

## INTERVIEW WITH S. KH. AGURSKY¹

[1920, before October 28]

### I. AMERICA AND SOVIET RUSSIA

The opinion that commercial relations between the United States and Russia will soon be established has no factual foundation.

Mr. Vanderlip² told us that he is convinced the new Republican government will establish commercial relations with Soviet Russia, but I think he is mistaken, because he is not acquainted with the international political situation. Mr. Vanderlip is a businessman, a financial magnate. He and many others of his class are genuinely interested in restoring commercial relations with us, but they are interested in this personally, wishing to deal with us. However, he does not understand that the United States is not at all as independent in its international policy as it seems to him; Great Britain and France are able to exert pressure on the United States toward renewing open war against us in the form of intervention, continuation of the blockade, and so forth. These are the true facts regarding our relations with the United States.

But we may soon expect certain changes in international relations in connection with our military successes on the Wrangel front, which we anticipate. Our military situation is now much better than it was a few months ago; Wrangel³ will certainly be defeated, and his defeat will undoubtedly change international relations with Soviet Russia.

### II. ON THE LABOR AND FARMER PARTY⁴

The appearance of a new Labor and Farmer Party in the United States of America is of enormous significance for the American and European movement, because the new party represents the two dominant elements in America — workers and poor farmers.

It is true that this new party is not a socialist party and does not yet recognize socialist principles, but it is unconsciously moving toward socialism...

The idea of creating a Labor and Farmer Party is not new in American history. There has always been a tendency in the American workers' movement toward creating such a party. The Populist Party⁵ had the same character as the new Labor-Farmer party. In the process of creating such parties, American workers will understand the mistakes they have made. They will themselves come to more revolutionary tactics and methods. They are moving toward socialism. They are moving toward communism.

### III. ON THE AMERICAN COMMUNIST MOVEMENT

The tendency of our American comrades to ignore such mass movements as the Labor-Farmer Party is a survival of sectarianism, which was so characteristic of the socialist movement in the past. The American Communist Party must be a sharply defined communist party. It must embody the basic principles of the Communist International. It is possible it will have only a small minority in the American revolutionary movement, but it must strive to become a mass movement through supporting any outbreak of revolutionary movement and participating in revolutionary activity. American communists must work in the left wing of the American Federation of Labor⁶, must take part in the work of the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.)⁷ and support such a movement as the Labor-Farmer Party, even though it is not yet a communist movement.

We have received very reliable information that in 1923 the American fleet will exceed the British fleet. It is clear that ships are not being built for peaceful purposes. There will undoubtedly be war, and if a pacifist movement begins in the United States, then, although we do not believe in narrow pacifism, nevertheless it is necessary that communists support it. Only in this way can the American communist movement become a major factor in public life.

Printed from typewritten text
Translated from English

¹ S. Kh. Agursky arrived in Russia from America in July 1917 as a political émigré. Since 1918 — member of the RCP(b). Was one of the organizers of international detachments of the Red Army in the struggle against interventionists. Together with Williams signed an appeal to émigrés fluent in English, calling upon them to join an international detachment to fight German invaders. The appeal was published in Pravda on February 24, 1918.

In 1920–1921 Agursky was received by Lenin on several occasions. On October 28, 1920, Agursky requested Lenin to review notes he had sketched concerning questions raised in their conversation.

² Washington B. Vanderlip — engineer, representative of American industrial circles, who came to Soviet Russia in 1920 with an offer to conclude an agreement on oil and coal concessions in Kamchatka.

³ P. N. Wrangel — general of the old army, baron, ardent monarchist, one of the leaders of the counterrevolution in southern Russia.